CORONA -- Across Southern California on Thursday, schools, businesses and residents lived moments of surprise, concern and fear as a massive manhunt for a former police officer wanted in a string of shootings in Irvine and Riverside forced lockdowns and evacuations.

The lockdowns came most recently in the Big Bear area, where parents who have children who attend area schools were not able to pick up their children, because the schools were on lockdown.

"We're all on lockdown, all the stores, and the schools are on lockdown," said Chris Gonzales, who works at Golden Bear Cottage Gifts in the Village of Big Bear Lake. By early afternoon in the Big Bear area the manhunt activity prompted a heavy flow of cars leaving the resort area toward Highway 18 toward the Lucerne Valley/Victorville area.

Chris Riddle, vice president of marketing for Bear Mountain and Snow Summit Ski Resorts, announced Bear Mountain Ski Resort was closing due to the volatile situation surrounding the manhunt for Christopher Dorner, whose abandoned burning truck led authorities to the Big Bear area.

"Because the burning vehicle was found in the Bear Mountain parking lot, the San Bernardino County Sheriff has set up a command center there," Riddle said. "They are now doing a search of the area around where the vehicle was found."

Riddle said that the Snow Summit resort would remain open and skiiers were asked to continue skiing at the summit resort, which is adjacent to Bear Mountain.

The resorts are in contact with the Sheriff's Department and the Forest Service and are cooperating with them, Riddle said.

Snow Summit was hosting Uniform Day on Thursday, offering free admission to law enforcement and military personnel.

In Riverside, the situation got tense after an early morning ambush on police officers authorities believe was committed by Dorner.

Centennial High School students C. Stewart and J. Stewart stayed home from classes on Thursday following the warnings police and school officials provided

"I was surprised. I got texts from the Corona Police Department and calls from the school," J.

Centennial High School is a short distance away from the Magnolia Avenue bridge over the 15 Freeway, which as of mid-Thursday, was still blocked off by Los Angeles and Corona police officers after the shooting that took place there shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday.

The Stewarts, brother and sister, declined to provide their first names. C. Stewart is J. Stewart's elder brother and said he received word from his friends who did attend school that many other Centennial students decided to stay home.

"Everyone at school in the first period said the school was empty. No one's here," he said.

C. Stewart, 17, said there was a heavy police presence around Centennial High School on Thursday morning, which made him worry the shooter would return to attack officers protecting the school.

Stallings Elementary School is also near the Magnolia Avenue shooting site. A parent who declined to give her name said she thought twice about allowing her young son to attend classes, but ultimately decided her child would be safe.

The Navy shut down its Point Loma base in San Diego after an active-duty service member about 9 a.m. reported seeing Dorner near a hotel on base. Military officials said Dorner had indeed checked into the hotel Tuesday but left the next day.

The Navy lifted the lockdown about midday after dozens of police officers swarmed the base and failed to find him.

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